Game apparatus



y 1940- M. CARNAHAN 7,

GAME APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1959 INVENTOR. MEEZ 6419444544 ATTORN Patented July 9, 1940 UNITED STATE pew; FFlCE My invention relates to a game apparatus and has particular reference to an apparatus for use in a game intended to afford amusement to players thereof and train such players in coordination between ear and hands.

In our present highly developed civilization personal safety and successful pursuit of the normal personal endeavors depends to a very large extent upon the rapid and accurate com ordination between hands and eye and between hands and car. This is particularly true in the operation of motor vehicles where the perception of exterior conditions is achieved by eye and ear and the operation of the vehicle in accordance with such perception is by hand. It is well recognized that rapid and accurate coordination,

such as is now required, can only be achieved through practice.

It is an object of my invention to provide a game apparatus to be manually actuated in response to directions received by ear so as to train players of the game in rapid and accurate coordination of hands and ear.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an apparatus of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph which employs separate control devices for each hand so as to afford training for persons in coordination between hands as well as between hands and ear.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a game apparatus of the character set forth in the preceding paragraph in which a figure is mounted for movement along prescribed paths and to a plurality of positions at any point along the paths and in which one manual control device is provided for moving the figure along the paths and another manual control device is provided for moving the figure to any of a plurality of positions it may assume.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a study of the following specifications, read in connection with the accompany drawing, wherein:

' Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of game apparatus of my invention illustrating one of the positions the figure may assume at any selected point along its prescribed paths of movement;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective View with parts shown in section to illustrate the details of construction of the figure mounting and the manner in which the control devices are coupled thereto; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating 55 the relative positions of the figure and the control devices when the figure is moved to a different location and a different position from that illustrated in Fig. 1.

The apparatus of my invention provides for the playing of a game which constitutes a mod- {5 would then attempt to perform the operations l0;

specified by the first player. The game apparatus includes a figure mounted for translatory movement along prescribed paths. This figure is also preferably mounted for movement to a plurality of positions or attitudes at any point along the aforementioned paths. Separate control devices are provided for the control of the location of the figure along the paths of movement and for controlling the position or attitude to be assumed by the figure at any one point 29 along the paths.

In playing the game, one person gives oral instructions as to the next location andposition in which the-figure is to be placed and a second player, through the use of the manual control 35 ulating the apparatus makes an error in perform- 39- ing, at which time the players change places and the game continues as before.

I have, in the accompanying drawing, illustrated the preferred embodiment of this apparatus as comprising a supporting "structure I 3 5 which may include a horizontally disposed base member 2 carried upon vertically disposed flange portions 3 defining a hollow box-like housing. The base surface 2 is provided with means defining a'plurality of paths which may comprise 40 a longitudinally extending slot 4 across which is disposed one or more transverse slots 5. A figure 6' is mounted upon a universal joint 1 for slidable movement along the various paths defined by the slots 4 and 5. 45

A manual control device 8 which may come prise aknob or handle 9 afiixed to a rod it is extended through an end wall l l of the supporting member and is coupled to a socket portion l2 of the universal joint 1. The rod H] is slidably and pivotally received in another ball and socket construction l 3 disposed at the point the rod l0 passes through the end wall H. The control device 8 is intended for use in sliding the figure 6 along the slots 4 and 5. A similar control de- 5 vice I4 is provided which is coupled to the figure 6 to effect movement of the figure within the socket portion l2 of the ball and socket construction so that the posture or attitude of the figure may be altered through manipulation of the control device M.

The ball and socket construction I may be advantageously formed along the lines illustrated in Fig. 2 and preferably includes the aforementioned socket portion l2 which is substantially spherical in shape and encloses a ball portion IE to which the figure 6 may be attached as by means of a pin and recess construction IS. The lower portion of the socket I2 is preferably made integrally with a vertically disposed tubular portion I! which passes through the slot 4--5 and terminates in an outwardly flared flange portion l8 disposed immediately below the under surface of the base member 2.

It will be observed that this construction permits the socket I2 to be slid along the slots 4 and 5, the tubular portion l'l acting as a guide which is received in the slot to guide this sliding movement while the flange portion 18 cooperates with the socket portion I2 to prevent vertical movement of the socket relative to the base portion 2.

The flange I8 is preferably provided with a clip portion l9 secured thereto and spaced below the under surface of the base portion 2 to afford a pivotal connection 29 with the innermost end of the aforementioned control rod I0.

The under surface of the ball member I5 is preferably provided with a downwardly extending pin or tail-piece 2! which terminates at its lower end in a pivotal connection 22 with the control rod forming a part of the second control device l4. Manipulation of this control device M to displace the pivotal connection 22 either right or left or front or rear relative to a point disposed directly'below the center of the ball member l5 will effect a corresponding tipping operation of the figure 6 from a vertically disposed position.

The ball joint construction l3 which is employed at the point where the control rods l pass through the end wall ll may be advantageously constructed along the lines illustrated in Fig. 2 in which the end wall II is shown as being provided with an enlarged bore 23 in which is received a ball member 24. The ball member 24 is retained within the bore 23 by means of retainers 25 and 26 located on opposite sides of the end wall II and secured thereto as by means of rivets 21. The ball member 24 is preferably loosely received within the bore 23 and between the retainers 25 and 26 so as to be easily rotatable therein. The ball member 24 is also provided with a diametrically extending bore 28 in which is loosely received the control rods associated with the control devices 8 and M.

In the play of the game, the first player may, if the figure is disposed in the location and position illustrated in .Fig. 1, issue the instruction fSimon says move right and bend left at which time the second player manipulating the control devices 8 and I 4 would move the figure to the position illustrated in 3. This he can accomplish by pulling the control device 8 toward him to slide the figure s along the slot 4 until it is brought forward to the junction between the longitudinally extending slot 4 and one of the transversely extending slots 5, at which time pushing the control device 8 to the left would cause the figure 6 to slide to the right along the transversely extending slot to a location such as that illustrated in Fig. 3. As soon as the figure has been moved to the proper location it may be caused to bend to the left as instructed by pushing the control device Hi to the left. This causes the rod associated therewith to pivot in the ball joint l3 through which it is passed and displace the lower end of the downwardly depending pin 2| to the right so as to cause a counter-clockwise rotation of the ball l5 within its socket l2 and thus incline or bend the figure 6 to the left as instructed. Similar instructions and operations are given and performed until the player operating the apparatus errs in his performance. At that time the players change places and the play of the game continues as before.

It will be observed that in order for the player manipulating the figure to carry out the instructions which are given him by the first player, he must manipulate both the control device 8 and the control device l4 and must manipulate these devices in a coordinated fashion since the operation of one effects the operation of the other.

While I have illustrated the figure 6 as comprising the upright figure of a man, other figures may be employed if desired and if it be considered to enhance the amusement to be derived from the play of the game, the various members of the figure, such as arms and head, may be pivotally secured to the body so as to provide an animation of the figure during the time it is being manipulated.

The base or supporting structure I as disclosed may be formed of wood, molded from plastic, or die stamped from sheet metal as desired.

From the foregoing it will be observed that I have provided a game apparatus which will af ford considerable amusement to players participating in the game and which operates to train such players in coordination, particularly between right and left hands and between hands and ear.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to any of the details of construction shown or described herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a base member; a figure; means mounting the figure for movement relative to the base member along a prescribed path and for movement to a plurality of attitudes at any point along said path; and separate manual control devices for moving the figure along the path and for causing the figure to assume any one of the plurality of attitudes.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a base member; a figure; mounting means mounting the figure for movement relative to the base member to any one of a plurality of specified locations and for movement to any one .of a plurality of attitudes at any selected location; a manual control device associated with said mounting means for moving said figure to said locations; and a second manual control device associated with said mounting means for moving said figure to any one of said plurality of attitudes.

3. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a figure; a base member having a slot therein defining a predetermined path of movement of said figure; a mounting means associated with said figure and receivable in said slot for guiding the movement of said figure along said slot and mounting said figure for movement relative to said base member to any one .of a plurality of attitudes; a control device secured to said base member and coupled to said mounting means for moving said figure along said slot; and a second control means carried by said base member and coupled to said mounting means for moving said figure to any one of said plurality of attitudes.

4. In a game apparatus, the combination of a base member having a longitudinally extending slot intersected by at least one transversely extending slot; a figure; a universal mounting for said figure including a socket having a guiding portion extending through said slot, and a ball portion secured to said figure and received within said socket; a control means pivotally and slidably secured to said base member and coupled to said socket member for moving said socket and the figure carried thereby along said longitudinal and transverse slots at will; a downwardly extending tail-piece secured to said ball member; and a second control device slidably and pivotally secured to said base member and coupled to the lower end of said tail-piece for moving said figure to any one of a plurality of attitudes.

5. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a supporting member including a base member and downwardly depending sides defining a housing space; a figure; means defining a plurality of paths of movement for said figure comprising a longitudinally extending slot intersected by at least one transversely extending slot, said slots being formed in said base member and extended into communication with said housing space; a ball and socket construction for supporting said figure including a spherical socket member having a downwardly depending tubular portion received in said slots, and a ball member secured to said figure and received in said socket; a horizontally extended flange member secured to the lower end of said tubular extension for preventing upward movement of said socket member; a control device including a slidable rod secured at one end of said flange member and extended through one of saidsides and exteriorly of said housing space for controlling movement of said figure along said slots; a downwardly depending tail-piece secured to said ball member; a second control device including a slidable rod coupled to the lower end of said tail-piece and extended through one of said sides and exteriorly of said housing space for pivotally moving said figure relative to said socket member to cause said figure to assume any one of a purality of attitudes; and universal joint means interposed between each of said slid-able rods and the downwardly depending side through which it is extended for securing said rods thereto while permitting slidable and pivotal movement thereof.

MERLE CARNAHAN. 

